EP3324651B1 - Binaural hearing aid system - Google Patents

Binaural hearing aid system Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3324651B1
EP3324651B1 EP17187126.2A EP17187126A EP3324651B1 EP 3324651 B1 EP3324651 B1 EP 3324651B1 EP 17187126 A EP17187126 A EP 17187126A EP 3324651 B1 EP3324651 B1 EP 3324651B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
hearing aid
antenna
shield
binaural
receiver
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EP17187126.2A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
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EP3324651A1 (en
Inventor
Peter Nikles
Jürgen Reithinger
Homayoun KAMKAR-PARSI
Eghart Fischer
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Sivantos Pte Ltd
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Sivantos Pte Ltd
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Publication of EP3324651A1 publication Critical patent/EP3324651A1/en
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/55—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using an external connection, either wireless or wired
    • H04R25/552—Binaural
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/40—Arrangements for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic
    • H04R25/407—Circuits for combining signals of a plurality of transducers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/55—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using an external connection, either wireless or wired
    • H04R25/554—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using an external connection, either wireless or wired using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/65—Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2225/025—In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2225/49—Reducing the effects of electromagnetic noise on the functioning of hearing aids, by, e.g. shielding, signal processing adaptation, selective (de)activation of electronic parts in hearing aid
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2225/51—Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a binaural hearing aid system comprising a left ITE (in the ear) hearing aid and a right ITE hearing aid. More specifically, the invention relates to a binaural hearing aid system comprising a left CIC (completely in canal) hearing aid and a right CIC hearing aid.
  • the invention deals with the problem of a directional processing of audio signals from a left hearing aid and a right ITE hearing aid each of them comprising one single microphone.
  • a hearing aid is used to supply a hearing-impaired person with acoustic ambient signals which are processed and amplified in order to compensate for or treat the respective hearing impairment. It consists, in principle, of one or more input signal converter (or input transducer), a signal processing facility, an amplifier and an output signal converter (or output transducer).
  • the input transducer is generally a sound receiver, e.g. a microphone, and/or an electromagnetic receiver, e.g. an induction coil.
  • the output transducer is usually implemented as an electro acoustic converter, e.g. a miniature loudspeaker, or as an electromechanical converter, e.g. a bone conduction earpiece. It is also referred to as an earpiece or receiver.
  • the output transducer generates output signals, which are routed to the ear of the patient and are to generate a hearing perception in the patient.
  • the amplifier is generally integrated into the signal processing facility. Power is supplied to the hearing aid by means of a battery integrated in the hearing aid housing.
  • the essential components of a hearing aid are generally arranged on a printed circuit board as a circuit substrate and/or are connected thereto.
  • Hearing aids are known in various basic types.
  • ITE hearing aids in the ear
  • CIC hearing aids completely in canal
  • BTE hearing aids behind the ear
  • a housing with components such as battery and signal processing facility is worn behind the ear and a flexible sound tube, also referred to as a tube, routes the acoustic output signals of a receiver from the housing to the auditory canal, where an earpiece on the tube is frequently provided to reliably position the tube end in the auditory canal.
  • RIC-BTE hearing aids (receiver in canal, behind the ear) are similar to BTE hearing aids, but the receiver is nevertheless worn in the auditory canal and instead of a sound tube, a flexible receiver tube routes electrical signals, instead of acoustic signals, to the receiver, which is attached to the front of the receiver tube, in most instances in an earpiece used for reliably positioning within the auditory canal.
  • RIC-BTE hearing aids are frequently used as so-called open-fit devices, in which the auditory canal remains open for the passage of sound and air in order to reduce the distracting occlusion effect.
  • Deep-fit hearing aids are similar to the CIC hearing aids. While CIC hearing aids are however generally worn in a section of the outer auditory canal lying further out (distally), deep-fit hearing aids are moved (proximally) further toward the eardrum and are worn at least partially in the inner-lying section of the outer auditory canal.
  • the outer-lying section of the auditory canal is a canal lined with skin and connects the auricle to the eardrum.
  • this channel is formed from elastic cartilage.
  • the channel from the temporal bone is formed in the inner-lying section of the outer auditory canal and thus consists of bones.
  • the passage of the auditory canal between sections of cartilage and bone is generally angled at a (second) bend and describes a different angle from person to person.
  • the bony section of the auditory canal is relatively sensitive to pressure and touch.
  • Deep-fit hearing aids are worn at least partly in the sensitive bony section of the auditory canal.
  • small diameters and winding forms of the auditory canal may hamper the advance movement further.
  • cochlea implants and bone conduction hearing aids are also known.
  • Modern hearing aids exchange control data by way of a radio system which is usually inductive.
  • the required transmission data rates with binaurally coupled hearing aids increase significantly if acoustic information is furthermore also to be transmitted for audiological algorithms (e.g. beamforming, sidelook etc.).
  • a higher data rate requires a larger bandwidth.
  • One of the main determining factors with respect to the sensitivity of the transmission system to interference signals is precisely the bandwidth.
  • the antenna is arranged on or partially in the so-called faceplate (the wall of the hearing aid facing away from the eardrum).
  • the antenna is then typically in the direct vicinity of the so-called hybrid (hybrid integrated circuit substrate) and of the receiver.
  • the hybrid and the receiver emit magnetic and electric fields, which can have an extreme influence on the transmission.
  • the arrangement of the antenna relative to the receiver and the hybrid is crucial to the performance of the transmission system. On account of the high packing density, a mutual shielding of the components is required.
  • the hybrid is to this end typically encased with a shield box.
  • the receiver obtains a shield film or is designed especially so that it is magnetically sealed.
  • the bridgeable distance is shortened for the transmission path with the same antenna and the same energy requirement but increased bandwidth.
  • the antenna could however be manufactured more efficiently, but this is typically only guaranteed by increasing the antenna volume.
  • One possibility of improving the transmission path nevertheless consists in designing the antenna such that it uses a volume which would otherwise remain unused. Furthermore, the size of the antenna is increased and thus the efficiency increased, without also having to create more space in the hearing aid.
  • Directivity in hearing aids can be achieved by using two omnidirectional microphones or one directional microphone with two openings in one housing or - as introduced lately - by combining two directional microphones of a BTE (behind the ear) hearing aid binaurally, using a binaural audio link and binaural signal processing e.g. beamforming.
  • BTE behind the ear
  • binaural audio link and binaural signal processing e.g. beamforming.
  • the object of the invention is thus to specify a binaural ITE hearing aid system, in particular a binaural CIC hearing aid system, which offers directivity going beyond natural directivity given by the pinna.
  • a binaural hearing aid system comprising a left ITE hearing aid with an antenna facility, a right ITE hearing aid with an antenna facility, means for transmitting audio signals between the antenna facility of the left ITE hearing aid and the antenna facility of the right ITE hearing aid and means for a binaural beamforming considering the natural directivity of the pinna and/or a head shadowing effect
  • the antenna facility of each of the ITE hearing aids comprises an antenna arrangement with a coil core made of magnetically permeable material, and extending along a longitudinal axis, a further electric hearing aid component, which emits electromagnetic interference radiation, and an at least partially planar shield made of magnetically permeable material, wherein the shield is arranged between the antenna arrangement and the further hearing aid component, wherein the shield is arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the coil core and wherein the shield is arranged at a distance of 50 to 150 micrometers from the coil core, preferably 75 to 100 micrometers.
  • the left ITE hearing aid and the right ITE hearing both comprise means for a binaural beamforming.
  • both ITE hearing aids of the binaural system differ in its shape but comprise identical components.
  • the means for transmitting audio signals between the antenna facilities of the both hearing aids comprise in each of the hearing aids a transmission and receipt module coupled with the respective antenna facility for wireless transmission and receipt of audio signals.
  • the transmission and receipt module comprises at least one of an amplifier, a frequency converter, a modulator, a demodulator, an encoder and a decoder.
  • the invention realizes that an ITE or a CIC hearing aid receives acoustic signals exhibiting a natural directivity provided by the pinna (resolving the front/back ambiguity especially for the higher frequencies) and also by head shadowing.
  • These natural effects provided by the pinna and/or the head of the hearing aid user allow for use of the audio signals received by the hearing aids placed in the left and in the right ear as direct input signals for a binaural beamforming algorithm, i.e. without the need of a monaural directional processing done in BTE hearing aids as preprocessing for the binaural beamformer.
  • the binaural hearing aid system further comprises means for an adaptive beamforming and/or means for noise reduction and/or means for head movement compensation.
  • all of these means are binaural processing means which process input signals of both ITE hearing aids.
  • a target signal e.g. a speech signal
  • the binaural beamforming algorithm and/or the binaural noise reduction algorithm is then adapted or corrected accordingly.
  • a narrow beam direction i.e. the directivity of the binaural hearing aid system achieved by the beamformer
  • a narrow beam direction i.e. the directivity of the binaural hearing aid system achieved by the beamformer
  • a binaural Wiener-type filter is used for noise reduction.
  • a frontal target signal is adaptively tracked in a certain angular range (e.g. +-10°) which compensates for unavoidable small head movements of the hearing aid wearer).
  • One mayor key aspect of the invention is the combination of a new antenna technique and the use of the natural directivity of the head and/or the pinna for a subsequent binaural beamforming algorithm.
  • the invention thus enables directivity in ITE, particularly in CIC hearing aids.
  • the means for a binaural beamforming are adapted to process a left electric input signal received from a left input signal converter of the left ITE hearing aid and a right electric input signal received from a right input signal converter of the right ITE hearing aid both into a left electric output signal to be transmitted to a left output signal converter of the left hearing aid and into a right output signal to be transmitted to a right signal converter of the right ITE hearing aid, each of the input signal converters being adapted to convert acoustic input signals into said electric input signals, and each of the output signal converters being adapted to convert said electric output signals into acoustic output signal.
  • the means for a binaural beamforming comprise left beamforming means located in the left ITE hearing aid and right beamforming means located in the right ITE hearing aid, the left and the right beamforming means both process the left and the right electric input signals and generate a left output signal and a right output signal respectively.
  • the input signal of the right ITE hearing aid is considered and vice versa.
  • the electric input signals of both ITE hearing aids are converted for wireless transmission and are exchanged via a bidirectional data link established between the two antenna facilities of the both hearing aids.
  • the means for a binaural beamforming are further adapted to receive a left electric input signal from the left ITE hearing aid and a right electric input signal from the right ITE hearing aid, and to combine the left input signal and the right input signal to preserve a target signal and attenuate signals coming from directions different from the direction of the target signal, thereby taking into consideration the natural directivity of the pinna and/or the head shadowing effect.
  • the left and the right input signals are weighted before combining them, and the weights are being adaptively changed ensuring that the target signal remains nearly untouched or not attenuated.
  • the means for a binaural beamforming are adapted to adaptively track the direction of the target signal and to readjust the combination of the right input signal and the left input signal accordingly.
  • the antenna facilities used in the binaural hearing aid system each include an antenna arrangement with a coil core made of magnetically permeable material, and a further electric hearing aid component, which emits electromagnetic interference radiation, wherein an at least partially flat shield made of magnetically permeable material is arranged between the antenna arrangement and the further hearing aid component, and wherein the shield is arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the coil core at a distance of 50 to 150 micrometers relative to the coil core.
  • the optimal distance results on the one hand such that with an increasing distance the signal-to-noise ratio of the antenna firstly increases and then reduces, with a maximum in the order of magnitude of 100 micrometers.
  • the shield effect between the antenna and the further hearing aid component initially increases with an increasing distance, in order then to pass into saturation in the case of a distance of the order of magnitude of 100 micrometers. Furthermore, a minimal distance is to be retained on account of the overall installation size.
  • Transverse is understood here to mean an orientation at right angles or approximately at right angles or in an angular range of a few degrees about 90° relative to one another.
  • a specific tilt can be permitted between the antenna (or the coil core respectively) and the shield, for instance in an angular range of 45° about the transverse orientation.
  • a tilt relative to the transverse orientation disadvantageously reduces the sensitivity of the antenna.
  • the orientation relates here to the longitudinal axis of the antenna arrangement, i.e. the coil core, and the surface provided by the shield.
  • an antenna arrangement comprising a coil core and an electrically conductive coil wound around the coil core has a preferred transmit and receive spatial direction along the longitudinal axis of the coil core.
  • the field density along this direction is much larger than along directions transverse to the longitudinal axis.
  • the shield can either be a plate, or a u-shaped angular plate, or a type of bowl, into which the further hearing aid component can be placed.
  • the planar shield effects on the one hand a shielding of the electromagnetic fields and already as a result reduces the mutual interference coupling.
  • a high magnetic permeability increases the shielding effect.
  • the shield on account of the high permeability of the material, ultimately brings about an extension of the antenna or an increase in its efficiency. A higher transmit field strength and a higher receive sensitivity develop as a result.
  • An advantageous development of the basic idea consists in the material of the coil core having a lower magnetic permeability than the material of the shield.
  • the higher magnetic permeability of the shield material amplifies the shield effect, without, on account of the typically higher loss angle of the highly permeable material, having a notable negative effect on the performance of the antenna.
  • a further advantageous development consists in the shield consisting of mu-metal film.
  • the use of a conventional mu-metal film with its particularly high magnetic permeability can achieve good processability at the same time as particularly good shielding.
  • a further advantageous development consists in the shield being glued to the antenna arrangement. This herewith gives rise to a particularly uncomplicated assembly.
  • the further electric hearing aid component mainly emits the electromagnetic interference radiation in a spatial interference radiation direction, and the antenna arrangement and the further hearing aid component are arranged transverse relative to one another such that coupling of interference radiation into the antenna arrangement is reduced.
  • Mainly means that the radiation intensity of the interference radiation in the interference radiation spatial direction is greater than in any other spatial direction.
  • the smallest coupling is then produced if the two spatial directions are oriented at right angles to one another, such that by transverse is meant an orientation at right angles or approximately at right angles or in an angular range of a maximum of 45° greater or less than 90° relative to one another.
  • the orientation relates in more precise terms to the respective magnetic field, so that the respective fields are orientated transverse to one another and the respective magnetic fields likewise.
  • the main directions of the fields cannot be readily theoretically determined, so that the respective main direction is not clearly fixed.
  • a minimal tilt relative to the transverse orientation on account of the thus caused asymmetry of the fields can have an advantageous effect on the shielding between the component and antenna.
  • the optimal orientation of the component results, theoretically in this respect, at 90° but must however be determined individually depending on the component and its actual field.
  • a tilting of the component basically has a less disadvantageous or indeed advantageous effect in comparison with a tilting of the shield, so that larger tilts of the component would generally be provided irrespective of the shield.
  • the reduction in the interference couplings into the antenna arrangement enables a greater transmit and receive bandwidth while retaining the structural volume and energy requirement.
  • the further hearing aid component may be a receiver or any other component emitting in particular inductive or electromagnetic radiation.
  • an advantageous development of the basic idea consists in the antenna arrangement including a coil antenna, in the further hearing aid component including a coil arrangement which emits the interference radiation, and in the coil antenna and the coil arrangement being oriented transverse to one another with respect to their respective longitudinal direction, in other words at right angles or approximately at right angles, or in an angular range about 90°.
  • the magnetic field of a coil antenna has a distinct spatial orientation, so that a distinct reduction in the mutual interference coupling is achieved by the alignment transverse to one another.
  • a further advantageous development consists in the further hearing aid component being arranged on the shield.
  • the arrangement of the hearing aid component close to the antenna arrangement with a reasonably low mutual interference coupling is enabled in particular by the mutual shielding.
  • a space-saving arrangement is produced as a result, which is furthermore also suited to the preassembly of the antenna arrangement and the further hearing aid component.
  • the further hearing aid component is fastened on the shield.
  • the fastening of the hearing aid component on the shield forms a preassembled module together with the antenna arrangement.
  • the further assembly or manufacture of the hearing aid is simplified as a result.
  • a further advantageous development consists in the shield, at least in an area of its periphery, surrounding the further hearing aid component in the direction facing away from the antenna core.
  • the efficiency of the shield is as a result further increased and the interference coupling in particular of the further component into the antenna arrangement is further reduced. Furthermore, the sensitivity and the quality of the antenna increase as a result.
  • a further advantageous development consists in the further hearing aid component being a receiver and the coil core and the shield having a sound channel which passes through the coil antenna.
  • both components can thus be positioned in a space-saving manner as deeply as possible in the auditory canal.
  • An acoustically advantageous positioning of the receiver as close as possible to the eardrum is achieved, while the coil antenna close to the ITE hearing aid of the respective other (right or left) ear of the user is achieved, thereby positively influencing the quality of the mutual data transmission. It has been shown practically that the sound channel does not significantly impair the antenna properties in the relevant field strength range.
  • the receiver is an electrodynamic converter and thus the receiver contains a magnetic circuit which has an excitation winding.
  • the receiver is typically fed with a pulse-density-modulated signal, which has spectral components in the frequency band of the data transmission system.
  • This actuation is very energy-efficient and is therefore used in hearing aids.
  • the spectral components cannot be avoided without strongly increasing the energy requirement of the hearing aid.
  • the receiver is the largest consumer in the hearing aid. Contrary to this, the energy requirement of the data transmission system is to this end very small and accordingly its receive sensitivity relative to magnetic interferers is relatively large.
  • the magnetic circuit and thus also the receiver winding is aligned at right angles or approximately at right angles or in an angular range about 90° relative to the antenna.
  • the coupling of the receiver winding to the antenna is thus significantly reduced.
  • the antenna can as a result be positioned significantly closer to the receiver.
  • the combination of the transverse-lying receiver with the antenna is optimized for the tapering shell contour at the tip of the ITE hearing aid and the installation length is thus minimized.
  • the positioning at the tip of the ITE hearing aid increases the adjustment rate and reduces the size of the hearing aid.
  • more degrees of freedom are enabled when positioning the faceplate, since the antenna is no longer arranged on or close to the faceplate.
  • the effort involved in planning a suitable position of the antenna on or close to the faceplate is omitted, since the tip of the ITE hearing aid represents a position which was predetermined in advance. In this way there is also no need to take physical restrictions into account, e.g. of magnetic field interferences, which is required when positioning in the region of the faceplate.
  • the interference coupling on the antenna can be reduced by the additional shielding between the antenna and the receiver.
  • the shielding preferably covers (best space/performance ratio) the entire surface of the receiver.
  • the field lines of the excitation winding of the receiver are fed back in a concentrated manner on account of the shield arranged in the immediate proximity at a minimal distance from the antenna core, so that only a very small number of field lines passes through the antenna windings. This prevents current from being induced into the antenna winding and thus interference couplings from the receiver are significantly reduced.
  • the shielding renders additional measures, for instance shielding films, and their installation, unnecessary.
  • the combination of shield and coil core is not only used for shielding purposes, but also in addition increases the sensitivity of the antenna. On account of the effect of the shield, the antenna length could therefore be reduced while retaining the same sensitivity.
  • a further advantage of the shield in the joint arrangement with the antenna is that with the same inductance, the required winding rate can be reduced so that in turn the diameter of the individual winding, typically enameled copper wire, can be increased.
  • the minimal number of windings and the larger wire diameter advantageously reduce the electrical winding resistance, as a result of which the antenna quality is increased.
  • the shield can also still extend around the edges of the receiver. All four edges of the receiver and their permutations are conceivable herefor and bring about a more or less large intensification of the decoupling effect.
  • the receiver could be encased laterally or even entirely in order to further improve the shield effect.
  • the antenna sensitivity and quality are herewith also further improved.
  • the field line concentration and thus the field strength of the antenna reduce on account of the shield at the exit to the receiver.
  • the minimal field strength causes fewer eddy currents in the metal surface of the receiver, and the quality of the antenna increases as a result.
  • the distance between the antenna and the receiver can therefore be shortened while retaining the same quality. This effect intensifies further on account of the hole in the ferrite, since the field lines concentrate at the edge in the flange area.
  • a further advantageous development of the basic idea consists in the coil core having a sound channel and the shield having a sound opening, and in the sound channel and the sound opening being arranged flush such that a continuous sound channel is formed.
  • the sound channel enables in particular a receiver to be provided as a further hearing aid component.
  • the acoustic output signal of the receiver can then be routed directly into the sound channel.
  • the acoustic output signal of a receiver arranged at another site can naturally also be routed through the sound channel if the further hearing aid component is not a receiver. It is as a result particularly unnecessary to provide a separate sound channel, so that a further space requirement is avoided.
  • a further advantageous development consists in the inner wall of the sound channel and/or the side of the shield facing away from the coil core being covered with sound-damping material.
  • the sound damping effects a vibration decoupling which is advantageous for the use of the receiver.
  • the sound damping being integrated into the module comprising coil core, coil antenna and receiver, a continuous preassembly and thus a continuous simplification of the further assembly and manufacture of the hearing aid is achieved.
  • the distance which is effected by the sound damping between the receiver and the shield, brings about the decoupling from the shield and receiver at a distance which is required in order to increase the antenna quality, by the transfer of the antenna field into the receiver being reduced by the distance. In this way, the more the receiver is surrounded by the shield, the smaller the distance can be selected, without a reduction occurring in the antenna quality.
  • a basic idea behind the invention consists in configuring the antenna such that it can be positioned closer to a further hearing aid component, without therefore losing out on performance.
  • an antenna facility is specified, which integrates the different functions, for instance shielding, contacting etc. in a small space.
  • the arrangement makes it possible in particular to manage without an additional space requirement and without additional components.
  • the antenna can also be positioned very close to the hearing aid component, and combined as an integrated module.
  • the installation is simplified as a result.
  • the arrangement of the receiver relative to the antenna is fixedly predetermined and only one, instead of two, components is present. No separate work steps are required for the installation of the antenna. Nor are any additional components required for a separate assembly.
  • the antenna module is a part which is already automatically pre-assembled prior to manufacture.
  • Fig 1 shows a schematic representation of an ITE hearing aid according to the prior art.
  • the ITE hearing aid 3 is inserted into the outer auditory canal of the hearing aid wearer. It is partly disposed in the outer-lying cartilaginous part 1 of the auditory canal and is partially pushed into the bony part of the auditory canal. This is consequently a CIC hearing aid. Depending on how far the hearing aid is introduced into the auditory canal, it could also be a deep-fit hearing aid.
  • a receiver 4 is placed on the end oriented toward the eardrum in the hearing aid 3. This outputs acoustic signals to the eardrum via a sound channel 7.
  • a hybrid circuit substrate 8 is arranged on the faceplate arranged on the opposing end, said circuit substrate including a signal processing facility (not shown) and an amplifier for generating control signals for the receiver 4.
  • An antenna 6 is likewise arranged and aligned on the faceplate 5 such that it is oriented in the direction of the opposing ear (not shown) of the hearing aid wearer. The antenna 6 is used to transmit data between the two binaural hearing aids of the hearing aid wearer, wherein only one of the two hearing aids is shown.
  • the antenna is arranged relatively close to the further electronic components of the hearing aid 3, so that electromagnetic interference signals herefrom can be coupled into the antenna 6.
  • Interference signals of this type are in particular emitted by the receiver 4, which has an inductive receiver coil, which is used to convert electrical signals into acoustic signals.
  • the signals which the antenna 6 sends or receives must pass the receiver 4 on their way to the opposing ear or hearing aid of the hearing aid wearer, which also negatively influences the data transmission path.
  • the cited interference factors severely reduce the performance of the data transmission system, so that a high bandwidth can only be achieved to a restricted degree with at the same time a minimal energy requirement.
  • FIG 2 shows a schematic view of an ITE hearing aid 13 with an antenna facility 28.
  • the housing 19 of the ITE hearing aid 13 is tapered towards the eardrum.
  • a sound channel 17 on this side is used to emit acoustic signals toward the eardrum of the wearer.
  • the hearing aid 13 is sealed by a faceplate 15 on the opposing side, on which faceplate, in addition to a battery (not shown) and microphones (likewise not shown), a hybrid circuit substrate 18 (shown with a dashed line) is arranged in the inside of the hearing aid 13 or of its housing 19.
  • the hybrid circuit substrate 18 includes a signal processing facility and an amplification facility, which actuates the receiver 14 which is likewise arranged inside the housing 19.
  • the receiver 14 generates acoustic output signals, which are output by way of the sound channel 17.
  • the receiver 14 is oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis of the hearing aid 13.
  • the antenna 16 is disposed between the receiver 14 and the tapered end of the hearing aid 13 oriented towards the eardrum, in order to transmit data between the two binaural hearing aids of the hearing aid wearer.
  • the antenna 16 is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the hearing aid 13 and is thus aligned transverse to the receiver 14. It is separated from the receiver 14 by a shield 26.
  • the shield 26 is arranged transverse to the antenna 16 or in other words transverse to the longitudinal axis 27 of its coil core (not shown) and at a minimal distance thereto. It has a sound opening 39, which is arranged flush with the sound channel 17. The distance amounts to between 50 and 150 micrometers.
  • the antenna 16, the coil core, the receiver 14 and the shield 26 form an antenna facility 28.
  • the transverse alignment of the receiver 14 effects a space-saving arrangement of the receiver 14 and antenna 16, the overall length of which is reduced by the transverse arrangement of the receiver 14.
  • the transverse arrangement of the receiver 14 produces an improved utilization of space in the tapering part of the housing 19.
  • the space available in the tapered tip of the housing 19 is utilized better than would be the case with a longitudinally arranged receiver.
  • Fig 3 again shows a schematic representation of the antenna facility 28.
  • the sound channel 17 is disposed within the antenna 16 and runs through this to the receiver 14.
  • the receiver 14 is, as explained previously, oriented transverse to the antenna 16 and to the longitudinal direction of the ITE hearing aid.
  • the shield 26 is arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis 27 between the coil core (not shown) of the antenna 16 and the receiver 14 at a distance of 50 to 150 micrometers from the coil core.
  • the distance can be effected for instance by a premolded part, upon which the shield 26 and the antenna 16 are mounted.
  • the distance can also be affected in a particularly simple manner in that the shield 26 and antenna 16 are glued to one another by means of an adhesive layer of a suitable thickness.
  • a longitudinally arranged receiver 20 is shown with a dashed line for explanation purposes only.
  • the dashed arrangement of the receiver 20 illustrates that the overall length increases with a longitudinal arrangement of the receiver 20, thereby not at the same time producing a tapering contour of the arrangement. As explained previously, it is illustrated such that with a longitudinal arrangement of the receiver 20, the space cannot be utilized so well in the tapered tip of the hearing aid 13.
  • Fig 4 shows a perspective view of an antenna receiver module.
  • the receiver 14 is, as explained previously, oriented transverse to the antenna 16.
  • the antenna 16 is arranged on a coil core 22 which consists of permeable material.
  • the permeable coil core 22 is used, in a conventional manner, to increase the antenna surface or sensitivity.
  • the shield 26 is arranged (the distance is not recognizable in the figure) at a distance of 50 to 150 micrometers from the end of the coil core 22 facing toward the receiver 14.
  • the shield 26 is predominantly planar in shape and oriented transverse to the alignment of the antenna 16, in other words transverse to the longitudinal axis 27 of the coil core 22 and in parallel to the alignment of the receiver 14.
  • the surface of the shield 26 is dimensioned such that the receiver 14 is entirely or almost entirely shielded from the antenna across the entire surface facing the shield 26 by means of the shield 26, or conversely the antenna 16 is shielded from the receiver 14.
  • the sound channel 17 runs through the coil core 22 and through the shield 26 to the receiver 14.
  • the coil core 22 is covered on the inside by a sound-damping or vibration-damping material which is molded as a tube 21.
  • the coil core 22 does not need to be covered in a vibration-damping manner on the inside and would then be used as a per se undamped sound guidance. A larger cross-section of the sound tube can thus be achieved.
  • the tube 21 surrounds the sound channel 17 from the antenna-side exit toward the receiver 14 and is molded there in a planar fashion in parallel to the shield 26.
  • the receiver 14 is attached to the planar-shaped part of the tube 21 and is thus likewise vibration-insulated. Round extensions of the sound- or vibration-damping material are used for the vibration-decoupled suspension of the facility in the housing of the hearing aid, said facility also being integrated into the facility.
  • the coil core 22 forms an antenna receiver module, together with the tube 21, the antenna 16, the shield 26, and the receiver 14.
  • the tube 21 can be molded such that with arrangements of the shield 26 and the coil core 22 on the tube 21, the distance mentioned above results between the shield 26 and the coil core 22.
  • the module can be inserted into the hearing aid pre-installed or pre-assembled. The pre-assembly of the antenna receiver module on the tube 21 reduces the assembly outlay during manufacture of the hearing aid and thus simplifies the manufacturing process.
  • Fig 5 shows an embodiment similar to the preceding representation.
  • the same reference characters are used for the same components and reference is made to the preceding explanations.
  • the coil core 22 and antenna 16 is however not arranged centrally with respect to the shield 26, but is displaced (upward in the figure). This can be used to adjust the outer shape of the antenna 16 and receiver 14 to the assembly space available in a hearing aid.
  • Fig 6 shows a further embodiment similar to the preceding representations.
  • the receiver 14 is tilted relative to the shield 26. This can also be used for adjustment to the assembly space available in a hearing aid.
  • the shielding effect of the shield 26 can vary with a minimal tilting angle of the receiver 14, and in certain circumstances can even be improved compared with an exactly perpendicular arrangement.
  • Fig 7 shows a schematic and significantly simplified representation of the field line curve of a receiver functioning with receiver coils.
  • a receiver coil 23 is arranged axially in the receiver 14, in other words oriented in the longitudinal direction. It is apparent that the receiver coil 23 in the axial direction generates a very compressed (magnetic) field, while in the radial direction, in the figure in other words to the right and left, generates a relatively weak (magnetic) field.
  • the field of the receiver 23 is generally however significantly influenced by its housing and possibly one or more further receiver coils and magnetic components and is formed in a more complex manner.
  • the magnetic field, which the receiver 14 generates is more strongly pronounced in its longitudinal direction than in its transverse direction. Consequently, the previously mentioned arrangement, in which the antenna which is sensitive to electromagnetic interference signals is not arranged longitudinally but instead transverse to the receiver already brings about a significant decoupling of the electromagnetic signals of the receiver 14 from the said antenna. The improved decoupling is thus achieved in that the antenna is arranged both laterally from and also transverse to the receiver 14.
  • Fig 8 shows the field line curve of the receiver with a shielding.
  • the receiver 14 is arranged to the left in the figure on the previously cited shield 26 of the permeable coil core 22.
  • the marginally distanced coil core 22 explained above bears the antenna 16.
  • the field line curve shown illustrates the shielding of the antenna 16 from the receiver 14 or from the signals of the receiver coil 23.
  • the field lines running in the direction of the antenna 16 are deformed by the shield 26 and run herethrough.
  • the field line density in the shield 26 is thus increased, whereas the field line density on the other side of the shield 26 is as a result reduced at the same time.
  • the strength of the (magnetic) field generated by the receiver coil 23 at the site of the coil 16 is reduced significantly. Interference couplings from receiver signals into the antenna 16 are thus significantly reduced.
  • Fig 9 shows the previously mentioned sound-damping tube separately.
  • the tube 21 is passed through in the longitudinal direction by the sound channel.
  • a coil section 24 is provided to receive the previously mentioned coil core 22.
  • the coil core 22 is arranged around the coil section 24, if necessary also around the further longitudinal path of the tube 21.
  • a shield section 25 is provided to receive the shield. The shield is placed here on the one side of the shielding section 25, whereas a receiver is arranged on the opposite side of the shield section 25.
  • the illustrated tube 21 consists entirely of sound-damping material, for instance conventionally of viton.
  • Fig 10 shows a further embodiment of the antenna-receiver module.
  • a shield 37 is arranged, as explained above, on one side.
  • An antenna 36 is wound onto the coil core 32.
  • the shield 37 surrounds the receiver 34 arranged there at least in the region shown to the top and bottom in the figure.
  • the shield 37 is embodied there in the shape of a bowl, so that the receiver 34 is surrounded by the shield 37 at least in a region of the shield periphery in the direction facing away from the antenna 36.
  • a particularly good shielding effect is given in case the shield 37 is surrounding the receiver 34 on all sides.
  • a further improvement in the shielding can be achieved in that the shield 37 entirely encloses the receiver 34 and not just laterally.
  • a further improvement in the antenna is produced as a result, which can either be used to increase the bandwidth or else to perform a shortening of the antenna with unvarying performance.
  • a sound channel 17 passes through the coil core 32, and thanks to the continuous tube 31 is covered with sound-damping material.
  • the sound channel 17 is arranged flush with the sound opening 40 of the shield 37.
  • the sound opening 40 and the sound channel 17 thus together form a continuous sound channel.
  • the tube 31 is likewise embodied planar or bowl-shaped in the region of the shield 37 and receives the receiver 34 in a vibration-damping manner.
  • the receiver 34 is attached to the tube 31.
  • the receiver antenna module shown can be pre-assembled, so that the further assembly and manufacture of the hearing aid is significantly simplified.
  • Fig 11 shows the curve of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the antenna signal as a function of the distance explained above between the shield and the coil core of the antenna. It is apparent that the signal-to-noise ratio is at its maximum at approximately 100 to 200 micrometers distance. It emerges from the curve that a certain minimum distance between the shield and coil core is advantageous.
  • SNR signal-to-noise ratio
  • Fig 12 shows the damping of the interference signals of the receiver for the antenna signal as a function of the distance explained above between the shield and the coil core of the antenna. It is apparent that the damping at approximately 100 micrometers distance converges into a maximum damping. It emerges from the curve that a certain minimum distance between the shield and coil core is advantageous.
  • Fig 13 shows a schematic representation of the magnetic field of the antenna in and around the coil core 22. Because the shield 26 is spaced apart from the coil core 22 it can be readily observed that it brings about a compression of the magnetic field on the side of the coil core 22 or antenna. On account of for its part permeable properties of the receiver 14, part of the magnetic field is also guided herethrough, which advantageously even brings about a theoretical extension of the antenna and thus contributes to improving the sensitivity.
  • Fig 14 shows a schematic representation of the magnetic field of the receiver 14. Because the shield 26 is spaced apart from the coil core 22 it can be readily observed that it brings about a shielding of the magnetic field of the receiver 14 for the antenna or the coil core 22. It is apparent that although part of the magnetic field penetrates into the shield 26, only the smallest part thereof reaches the coil core 22 across the gap.
  • the field lines running in the direction of the antenna 16 are deformed by the shield 26 and run herethrough.
  • the field line density in the shield 26 is thus increased, whereas the field line density on the other side of the shield 26 is as a result reduced at the same time.
  • the strength of the (magnetic) field generated by the receiver coil at the site of the coil is significant. Interference couplings from receiver signals into the antenna are thus significantly reduced.
  • Fig 15 schematically shows a hearing aid user 41 wearing a left ITE hearing aid 42 and a right ITE hearing aid 42.
  • Both ITE hearing aids 42, 43 are connected via a bidirectional wireless audio data link 45 and establish a binaural ITE hearing aid system 46, wherein the audio signals received by both ITE hearing aids 42, 43 are binaurally processed into a respective output signal for the left and the right ITE hearing aid 42, 43 respectively.
  • Both ITE hearing aids 42, 43 are similar to the ITE hearing aid 13 shown in Fig.
  • the wireless link for transmitting bidirectional audio data from ear-to-ear allows for use binaural signal processing algorithms such as binaural beamforming.
  • binaural signal processing algorithms such as binaural beamforming.
  • the new binaural ITE hearing aid system provides an even more efficient solution to speech understanding in background noise. Due to the use of the aforementioned and described antenna facilities this advanced binaural technology is also possible in CIC hearing aids.
  • Fig 16 shows the binaural processing of the audio signals of both ITE hearings aids 42, 43 in more detail. Between the left ITE hearing aid 42 and the right ITE hearing aid 43 of the hearing aid user 41 a wireless bidirectional audio data link 45 is established.
  • the left ITE hearing aid 42 receives via a left input signal converter 47, particularly a microphone, a left input signal 50 which is fed into left binaural processing means 54 which processes the left input signal 47 into a left output signal 56 which is fed to a left output signal converter 58, particularly a loudspeaker.
  • the right ITE hearing aid 43 respectively, receives via a right input signal converter 48, particularly a microphone, a right input signal 51 which is fed into right binaural processing means 55 which process the right input signal 48 into a right output signal 57 which is fed to a right output signal converter 58, particularly a loudspeaker.
  • the right input signal 51 is also transmitted to the left ITE hearing aid 42 and fed into the left binaural processing means 54.
  • the left input signal 50 is transmitted to the right ITE hearing aid 43 accordingly and fed into the right binaural processing means 55 for further processing.
  • the left binaural processing means 54 of the left ITE hearing aid 42 and the right binaural processing means 55 of the right ITE hearing aid 43 both process the input signals 50, 51 of both ITE hearings aids 42, 43.
  • the binaural processing means 54, 55 of both ITE hearing aids 42, 43 each comprise means 60 for a binaural beamforming which particularly incorporate means 61 for an adaptive beamforming, means 62 for noise reduction and means 63 for head movement compensation.
  • the input signals 50, 51 of both ITE hearing aids 42, 43 each are processed by the binaural processing means 54 of the left ITE hearing aid 42 as well as by the binaural processing means 55 of the right hearing aid 43.
  • the left output signal 56 of the left binaural processing means 54 and the output signal 57 of the right binaural processing means 55 are fed to the left output signal converter 58 and to the right output signal converter 59 respectively.
  • Fig. 17 schematically depicts the head shadowing effect which provides a natural directivity in the left input signal 50 and in the right input signal 51 of the binaural ITE hearing aid system 45 as shown in Figs 15 and 16 .
  • the speech signal of a front speaker 65 is identically received without further attenuation in both ITE hearings aids 42, 43.
  • the speech signal of side speakers 66 is attenuated differently by the head of the hearing aid user 41.
  • the speech signal of a left side speaker 66 is received at the left ITE hearing aid 42 without any significant attenuation but is received at the right ITE hearing aid 43 with significant attenuation caused by the head of the hearing aid user 41.
  • the speech signal of a right side speaker 66 is received at the right ITE hearing aid 43 without any significant attenuation but is received at the left ITE hearing aid 42 with significant attenuation caused by the head of the hearing aid user 41.
  • a speech signal from a back speaker (not shown) is received in both ITE hearing aids 42, 43 with a natural attenuation by the pinna.
  • Fig 18 shows the means 61 for a binaural adaptive beamforming (see Fig 16 ) in a left ITE hearing aid 42 in more detail.
  • the left input signal 50 is used as the local signal.
  • the right input signal 51 of the right ITE hearing aid 43 is used as a contralateral signal.
  • Both input signals 50, 51 are fed into comparator means 68 for a binaural noise and target signal estimation.
  • the noise signal is received by a weighted combination function of both input signals 50, 51 to yield a minimum output power.
  • the target signal is received by a respective directional beamforming which ensures, for example, that a front target signal remains untouched or not attenuated.
  • the target signal is formed with the aid of target estimation means 69.
  • the noise signal is estimated in noise estimation means 70.
  • An adaptive beam forming filter 74 updates the respective weights of the input signals 50, 51 and/or of the weights of the noise and target signals for a noise cancellation to follow quick changes in a noisy non-stationary environment
  • Fig 19 shows a spatial notched directivity 76 followed from a specific combination of the left and right input signals 50, 51 of a binaural ITE hearing aid system 45 as shown in Fig 15 and 16 .
  • the given signal combination shows the maximal attenuation of the received audio signal (here from a front target speaker 65) and hence is a strong indication of the target signal direction.
  • the combination of the input signals 50, 51 is adapted to form a rotated notched directivity 77.
  • the narrow beam directivity 78 of the binaural ITE hearing aids system 45 is rotated accordingly and a head movement is compensated.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Headphones And Earphones (AREA)
  • Details Of Aerials (AREA)
  • Shielding Devices Or Components To Electric Or Magnetic Fields (AREA)
EP17187126.2A 2015-03-13 2016-03-10 Binaural hearing aid system Active EP3324651B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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EP15159071 2015-03-13
PCT/EP2016/055188 WO2016146487A1 (en) 2015-03-13 2016-03-10 Binaural hearing aid system
EP16726014.0A EP3269155B1 (en) 2015-03-13 2016-03-10 Binaural hearing aid system

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EP3269155A1 (en) 2018-01-17
JP2018515954A (ja) 2018-06-14
WO2016146487A1 (en) 2016-09-22
EP3269155B1 (en) 2019-01-02
US10231063B2 (en) 2019-03-12
CN107889554B (zh) 2020-12-29
JP6464280B2 (ja) 2019-02-06
CN107889554A (zh) 2018-04-06
DK3269155T3 (da) 2019-04-15
DK3324651T3 (da) 2019-03-04
EP3324651A1 (en) 2018-05-23
US20180007478A1 (en) 2018-01-04

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